Coast-to-coast

On the bright side, our new Best Bets feature continues to do well.

WAGERED: $383.00
COLLECTED: $191.00

We started Best Bets with the New Year. This marked the third week and, so far, we've been in the plus column two out of those three weeks -- and we just missed with a 9-1 shot last week or we'd be 3-3.

This week we came up with two winners on top in four races. A $2 win wager on each would have cost $8 and would have returned $13.20, good for a 65% win-wager ROI.

Gulfstream, Race 9, Mogador.
Scratched. Off turf.

Fair Grounds, Race 7, Punch Appeal.
Ran 3rd at 2-5 (xxx, xxx, 2.10).

Fair Grounds, Race 8, America Alive.
WON (8.20, 4.20, 3.20).

Santa Anita, Race 7, Imperialism.
Ran 4th at 5-2.

Santa Anita, Race 8, Chattahoochee War.
WON (5.00, 3.40, 2.60).

Saintliness 6-4
Miss Fortunate 3-1
Mariakel 9-1

Wager: $5 WP on Mariakel.
Ran 3rd.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 3-4.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-3-4-6.

Mariakel...Stretches out after a couple of nice sprint stake tries. Positive jock switch.
Bounding Charm...Tailed off a little at end of last season but is capable if able to fire best shot on return.
Saintliness...Hard to fault the 4-4 record.
Board Elligible.

Scrappy T 11-1
Naughty New Yorker 2-1
Tani Maru 9-2

Wager: $5 WP on Lakeville Rush.
Ran 8th at 12-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 2-8.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 2-3-5-8.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 2-3-5-8.

Lakeville Rush...Always leery of Canadian shippers but like the improvement shown from start one to start two. Has the early speed to be effective on this track and any further improvement makes him tough.
Naughty New Yorker...Steps into open company but was impressive taking NY-bred stake on this track last time.
Qualified Opinion...Another state-bred. Brings in an undefeated 2-2 record for trainer Violette.
Tani Maru.

Quest 3-1
Judiths Wild Rush 6-1
Gran Cesare 18-1
Moved from turf to main track

No wagers -- off turf.
Wager: $5 WP on Mogador.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.

Mogador...Clement turfer ran a decent fourth last time and should be set up nicely for a good run today. Prado in the saddle.
Remind...Pretty steady diet of graded stakes showing in PPs. The few ungraded tries have been very good. Layoff a concern but has done OK off the bench before.
Sir Walter Rahy...Another one that has been on a break -- but won first out this summer after a six month rest.
Twilight Road.

Jims Third Bolero 8-1
Little Matth Man 4-1
Tidal Wave 8-1

Wager: $5 WP on Irish Colony.
Ran 4th at 3-2.
...$5 exacta Irish Colony over Last Intention.
Ran 4/6.
...$5 exacta box top two.
Ran 4-6.

Irish Colony...Looks the best of this bunch in Maryland right now.
Last Intention...Gill/Shuman runner is clearly the one to beat.

Ambition Unbridled 21-1
Tara's Touch 6-1
Our Love 8-1

Wager: $5 WP on Dyna Da Wyna.
Ran 11th at 2-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 3-11.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 3-8/entry-9-11-12/entry.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 3-8/entry-9-11-12/entry.

Dyna Da Wyna...Stakes winner at the trip. Picks up the meet's top jock. The outside post is a concern though.
Our Love...2-2 on the turf -- both at 5F. Good try on the dirt last time should set her up for this.
Mocha Queen...Won a Churchill stake two back and gave a decent try here last time. Might improve with that local start under her belt.
Ahuriri Hikawai/Speedy Sonata.

The Beter Man Can 11-1
Enduring Will 3-1
Punch Appeal 2-5
Eyes On Eddy ran 4th to complete the $902.80/$2 super.

Wager: $5 WP on Punch Appeal.
Ran 3rd.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 3-4.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $53.60 on the ex box ($107.20/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $85.40 on the tri box ($170.80/$2).

Punch Appeal...Five-time stakes winner has huge experience edge on this field. Bailey rides for Asmussen.
Eyes On Eddy...Broke maiden nicely in second start. Now stretches out after two sprints.
Enduring Will...Won $100K stake at Lone Star on Oct 1. Has improved in all three starts but layoff is a concern.
The Beter Man Can.

America Alive 3-1
Honor in War 7-2
Rapid Proof 17-1

Wager: $5 WP on America Alive.
Collected $31.00 on the WP (8.20, 4.20).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-5.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-4-5-7.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-4-5-7.

America Alive...Stepped up when moved to the turf last year. Win over the track last time should set him up for this.
Candid Glen...8YO millionaire is making third start back from a layoff -- and first two were pretty good.
Social King...Should appreciate the return to turf.
Justlikedawg.

Storm Surge 1-1
Smooth Bid 3-1
Kansas City Boy 2-1
Biloxi Palace scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Biloxi Palace.
Scratched.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Scratched.
...$2 tri key Biloxi Palace over next three.
Scratched.

Biloxi Palace...2-2 over the track including last time in first try around two turns.
Smooth Bid...5-5 in the money as a 2YO. Off since November but these youngsters can often return with some added maturity. Bailey rides.
Storm Surge...Won stake on Christmas Eve but faltered in only try around two turns.
Kansas City Boy.

Spanish Chestnut 7-2
Iced Out 9-1
Texcess 2-1

Wager: $5 WP on Kirkendahl.
Ran 5th at 9-5.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 4-5.
...$2 exacta key Kirkendahl over next three.
Ran 5/1-3-4.

Kirkendahl...Impressive in two sprints so far -- now stretches to a mile.
Chips Are Down...Looks to be on the improve for Baffert. Should be able to sit just off early speed and make a run in the lane.
Spanish Chestnut...Could be a good one for Biancone. Broke maiden at Keeneland and then ran second in a stake. Two nice tires in SoCal since.
Texcess.

Minister Eric 7-1
Mass Media 2-1
Skipaslew 41-1

Wager: $5 WP on Imperialism.
Ran 4th at 5-2.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 4-7.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-4-7-9.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-4-7-9.

Imperialism...Likes the track. Moves turf-to-dirt. Layoff a concern but could prove best if ready.
Harvard Avenue...Might add some value stretching out off of a couple of nice sprint tries.
Minister Eric...Also has the 'stretching out off two sprints' angle working.
Indian Country.

Chattahoochee War 3-2
Eastern Sand 9-2
Littlebitofzip 9-2

Wager: $5 WP on Chattahoochee War.
Collected $21.00 on the WP (5.00, 3.40).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-7.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-3-6-7.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-3-6-7.

Chattahoochee War...Looked good in a couple of starts last year including a decent fourth in stake behind Dubleo. Should return ready to go for Frankel.
Fongtastic...Euro-import might have some talent.
Littlebitofzip...Plenty of early foot.
Veiled Speed.

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